Special to WorldTribune.com
Egypt has posted an ambassador to Israel for the first time since 2012.
Ambassador Hazem Khairat arrived last week and will take the position to the head the Egyptian Embassy in Tel Aviv.
Former president Muhammad Morsi removed the last Egyptian ambassador following Israel’s November 2012 Operation Pillar of Defense in Gaza. Morsi was later deposed and replaced by President Abbad Al Fatah a-Sisi, who has championed reform in Islam and reinforced existing regional security agreements.
Egypt under Sisi has also cracked down on the traffic of smugglers and jihadists between Gaza and the Sinai Peninsula, flooding smuggling tunnels and uprooting sites and residences used by enablers of the activity near the border in Sinai.
During a cabinet meeting on on Jan. 3, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu welcomed the new envoy.
“This past weekend a new Egyptian ambassador arrived to Israel, Hazem Khairat. I welcome his arrival; I welcome the re-stationing of an Egyptian ambassador in Israel, which will enable us to further strengthen relations with this important and key Arab country.”